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Topic Review (Newest First)

10-01-2012 09:46 AM

ramzoom

The O/D in my 59 worked great to get up to highway speed..Up to that point its all the same but I could easily cruise at 65..

10-01-2012 09:21 AM

farna

OD doesn't make a whole lot of difference with the L-head. Had one. You MIGHT notice a little more take-off with the lower rear axle (usually a 4.11 with the L-head, but might be a 3.78), but I doubt it. The old 196 (L-head and OHV) just takes a while to spin up with the 4.25" stroke and heavy crank/flywheel/rods/pistons. Hard to stall out once it starts though! I went from a 3.31 to a 3.78 gear trying to get a little more acceleration once. Had to have a stop watch to notice the couple tenths difference in a quarter mile! Once you hit about 20 seconds for a quarter mile you just don't notice if you cut it down to 19.7 or 19.8. I DID notice another 500 rpm when cruising at 60 though!! Wasn't worth having that... The old L-head really needs the low gear to pull OD. Stock was 4.11 in 61 with OD, went up to 3.78 in 63.

10-01-2012 08:59 AM

ramzoom

Did I see Dumbarton? I had to go up your way to work for a week a few years ago and had a job over the Dumbarton bridge..Then into San Fransisco..I hated it! No where to park!

My 11 year old shot the video so it's a little funky but here is MY version of what you did. I shot two of these and both of them I found myself with my foot going up on the clutch to shift into the next gear when there isn't any! LOL

Brian

09-30-2012 09:56 AM

MARTINSR

LOLOL, I could only dream of getting on the freeway with my Rambler like that! LOLOLOL, it's tached out at 45! LOLOLOL, that is such a cool car you have!

Brian

09-30-2012 01:15 AM

ramzoom

Took the Rambler to Cruisin for a Cure last weekend..My father drove it home so he wasn't getting on it hard but this video is with the 5 speed..went with the T5 from a S10..The trans is geared perfectly now for the Quad 4..I will say the car is sooo much better performance wise..We had about an hour drive roughly in 100+ degree weather and the little Rambler ran 180-185 and 190-195 in traffic on the freeway. A lot more fun with the T5

You can get an under dash cable from a number of sources. Any of the OD equipped 50s cars will have one, and ALL used a Borg-Warner OD. The under dash park brake cable from a 60s compact or a more modern 70s/80s import will work too. You would want to remove the ratchet and spring from a park brake handle, of course. Just make sure the cable is stiff enough. A choke cable, for example, won't work. An auto trans shift cable will, but then you have to devise a handle for that. There might be some HD control cables similar to universal choke cables that would work, but I don't know where to find one. I've seen T handle control cables (smaller than the Rambler T-handle, but usable), but can't find any kind of source right now. Even tried Grainger's on-line catalog, no dice!

07-11-2012 12:27 AM

ramzoom

I don't have one anymore..I did from the green 59 but it was sold long ago. I will keep my eyes peeled at the yards and see if anything turns up. I can tell you the stock L-head with the overdrive trans was really nice..my 59 would cruise great..as far as a stock one goes that was a nice setup.

07-10-2012 10:11 PM

MARTINSR

I am tempted to install a five speed but just hate the thought of loosing my column shift. I am starting to do some research on the overdrive. I have an original tranny and a few NOS parts but need more. I am looking for the underdash control for one if you have one you would like to sell PM me.

Brian

07-10-2012 09:30 PM

ramzoom

Just some slight tweaking..

Reworked air intake and now has a 5 speed..

05-05-2012 10:52 PM

MARTINSR

Robert, pm me with your email address.

Brian

05-05-2012 08:35 AM

MARTINSR

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramzoom

an ad came up on the internet..not craigslist or anything like that..some obscure search engine thing?
You mentiond the NOS wheel and that hit me like a brick..Oh yeah! BRIAN! up north! lol..

I don't know of anywhere I put an ad but ebay or craigslist it must have been a link to one of them?

Brian

05-04-2012 09:01 PM

ramzoom

an ad came up on the internet..not craigslist or anything like that..some obscure search engine thing?
You mentiond the NOS wheel and that hit me like a brick..Oh yeah! BRIAN! up north! lol..

05-04-2012 02:01 PM

MARTINSR

And somehow I never saw this post you made with the Woodie and Dodge, VERY cool stuff, holy crap!

Brian

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